For HR professionals in Saudi Arabia, this continuous learning has become even more relevant as organizations respond to workforce transformation, digital HR, leadership development, localization, changing employee expectations and increasingly strategic HR responsibilities.

 

If you currently hold a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification, you generally need to earn 60 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) during your three-year recertification cycle to recertify through professional development activities. SHRM also provides the alternative of retaking the certification exam during the final year of the recertification cycle.

 

The good news is that earning 60 PDCs does not need to become a last-minute exercise.

 

With a structured professional development plan, HR professionals in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and across Saudi Arabia can use their recertification journey to strengthen practical capabilities while maintaining their SHRM credential.

 

This guide explains how SHRM recertification works, what PDCs are, what activities can qualify, how to record them and how to plan your professional development effectively.

What Is SHRM Recertification?

SHRM recertification is the process used by SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP credential holders to maintain their certification.

 

Rather than treating certification as a one-time achievement, SHRM’s recertification framework encourages professionals to continue developing relevant HR knowledge and competencies throughout their careers.

 

According to SHRM’s current requirements, certification holders generally have two recertification options.

 

The first is to earn 60 PDCs within the three-year recertification cycle.

The second is to retake the appropriate SHRM certification examination during the final year of that cycle.

 

For many working HR professionals, earning PDCs provides a practical route because professional learning can be integrated into normal career development.

 

Instead of simply studying to keep a credential, you can choose learning activities that help address challenges you are currently facing at work.

How Many PDCs Do You Need for SHRM Recertification?

If you choose the professional development route, you need to earn 60 Professional Development Credits within your three-year SHRM recertification cycle.

 

Your recertification end date is generally the last day of your birth month at the end of the relevant three-year cycle. SHRM recommends completing the required PDCs and submitting the recertification application by this end date.

 

This makes planning important.

 

Waiting until the final months of the cycle can limit your learning choices and turn professional development into a box-ticking exercise.

 

A better approach is to create a PDC development plan early in your certification cycle.

That allows you to select training based on actual development needs rather than simply looking for the quickest available credits.

What Are SHRM Professional Development Credits?

Professional Development Credits, commonly called PDCs, are credits earned through qualifying professional development activities relevant to the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge® (SHRM BASK®).

 

They allow SHRM-certified professionals to demonstrate continued learning and professional contribution.

 

SHRM organizes qualifying activities into three broad categories :

 

  • Advance Your Education — learning activities such as relevant educational programs, courses and other professional development experiences.
  • Advance Your Organization — qualifying workplace projects that contribute to organizational success.
  • Advance Your Profession — activities that contribute to the broader HR profession.

An important point for professionals planning training is that SHRM currently states 

 

there is no PDC maximum for the Advance Your Education category during a three-year recertification cycle.

 

This means structured HR education can play a major role in a recertification strategy.

Why SHRM PDCs Matter Beyond Maintaining Your Certification

The objective should not simply be to reach the number 60.

The strongest professional development plan connects recertification with your actual career goals.

 

For example, an HR professional moving toward an HR Business Partner position may want to strengthen business acumen, consulting capability, communication and stakeholder management.

 

An HR manager preparing for a director-level position may need deeper capabilities in strategic workforce planning, organizational transformation, leadership and executive decision-making.

 

Meanwhile, organizations developing their HR teams may prioritize competencies that support workforce planning, employee engagement, organizational effectiveness and business performance.

 

This is where SHRM recertification can become more valuable. Instead of thinking :

“How can I collect 60 PDCs?”

Think :

“Which capabilities should I build during these three years, and which qualifying development activities can help me build them?”

That shift turns recertification into part of a long-term career strategy.